The final piece of the busy Florida cruise season puzzle will soon be on its way as Holland America is set to take possession of its new cruise ship Nieuw Statendam.

The 2,666-passenger vessel was officially handed over today at a ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.

"When the S.S. Statendam was introduced, in 1898, the original, the first of five ships to carry the Statendam name, she took to the seas at 10,491 gross tons and 515 feet," said Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford. "Today's Statendam comes in at 99,902 tons and 975 feet with world-class restaurants, music venues and entertainment that wouldn't have been envisioned 120 years ago. And while the crew and passengers on that first voyage probably couldn't imagine the size and elegance of the ship that would share the Statendam name today in 2018, they undoubtedly felt the new-ship excitement that we all share today."

The ship will embark on a 14-night transatlantic crossing Dec. 5 to Port Everglades. When it arrives, it will join four other new cruise ships in South Florida for the winter sailing season, arriving on the heels of Carnival Horizon, Norwegian Bliss and Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas out of Miami, as well as Celebrity Edge, which just debuted out of Port Everglades.

Holland America Nieuw Statendam is the second Pinnacle-class ship, a sister ship to ms Koningsdam. Nieuw Statendam debuts December 2018.

The ship is the second in the line’s Pinnacle class, a sister ship to Holland America ms Koningsdam, which debuted in 2016. Oprah Winfrey is the ship’s godmother, and will dedicate the ship in a ceremony in January.

Most of Nieuw Statendam is the same as Koningsdam, but there are few differences including the addition of eight more staterooms.

While both feature the “Music Walk” venue that includes the Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and B.B. King’s Blues Club, new to the ship will be the Rolling Stone Rock Room, a venue formed in partnership with Rolling Stone, and in which will be a live five-piece band that chronicles the history of rock. A smaller version is also coming to Koningsdam in December, though.

The ship also has traded out the Culinary Arts Center for a new venue called Club Orange, a specialty restaurant that’s included in the cost for suite-class passengers, or for a fee for other passengers ($50 per person per day). It features breakfast and dinner that is the same as eating at the Pinnacle Grill, but with added menu items. Club Orange is also rolling out to Koningsdam and will be added to spaces in other Holland America ships in 2019. In addition to a specialty dining, Club Orange will offer priority boarding and disembarkation, tender services, alternate restaurant reservations and other benefits.

The popular America’s Test Kitchen will still be around, but migrate venues, as it had been in the Culinary Arts Center on Koningsdam.

Also, for the first time the line will offer al fresco dining at its Pan-Asian restaurant Tamarind while Rudi’s Sel de Mer gets more seating.

The ship will also give sushi its own space adjacent to Tamarind with the addition of Nami Sushi, with rolls designed by Sushi Chef Andy Matsuda, a member of the cruise line’s culinary council.

The Pinnacle suite will have a more modern feel while the Neptune Lounge gets more seating and the ship is promised to have a more open feel.

On Deck 12, Nieuw Statendam will have a much larger venue for exploring its ports of call options in the expanded Explorations Central & Cafe, taking over the Crow’s Nest space that was found on Koningsdam.

The ship begins voyages from Port Everglades on Dec. 19, with itineraries that include stops at the line’s private Bahamas destination Half Moon Cay. The ship stays in South Florida through April 2019.

Carnival Cruise Line has chosen Port Canaveral to be the first home for what will be its largest ship ever. The unnamed 180,000-ton cruise ship due in 2020 will be a new class for Carnival that can sail with 5,286 passengers, based on double capacity.

Carnival Cruise Line has chosen Port Canaveral to be the first home for what will be its largest ship ever. The unnamed 180,000-ton cruise ship due in 2020 will be a new class for Carnival that can sail with 5,286 passengers, based on double capacity.

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Carnival Cruise Line has chosen Port Canaveral to be the first home for what will be its largest ship ever. The unnamed 180,000-ton cruise ship due in 2020 will be a new class for Carnival that can sail with 5,286 passengers, based on double capacity.

Carnival Cruise Line has chosen Port Canaveral to be the first home for what will be its largest ship ever. The unnamed 180,000-ton cruise ship due in 2020 will be a new class for Carnival that can sail with 5,286 passengers, based on double capacity.

CAPTION

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Norwegian Bliss offers up several unique attractions and venues that set it apart in a crowded lineup of cruise ships.

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